Topic: News Sources

Investigative journalist Catherine Herridge testified before Congress regarding the seizure of her reporting files by CBS News following her termination. Herridge, supported by the SAG-AFTRA union, argued that the lockout and seizure of confidential source information crossed a "red line" for press freedom. The case centers on her refusal to reveal sources for a story about a Chinese scientist.

Investigative journalist Catherine Herridge was fired by CBS News, and her personal reporting files were reportedly seized by the network. Herridge is currently facing civil contempt charges for refusing to divulge a source in a case involving a Chinese scientist. The hosts speculate that Herridge's increased credibility may lead to a high-level government spokesperson role in a future administration.

The Atlantic published a report claiming Donald Trump disparaged fallen military members as "losers and suckers" during a 2018 trip to France. Trump and former officials like John Bolton have denied the story, which relies on anonymous sources. Fox News correspondent Jennifer Griffin claimed to confirm parts of the report, though critics point out that the "suckers" comment was specifically related to the Vietnam War, a sentiment shared by many veterans of that era.

Following the Special Counsel's dispute of the BuzzFeed story, PBS NewsHour omitted the correction from its primary news teaser, effectively burying the follow-up. The reliance on anonymous "government sources" by major publications like The New York Times is criticized as a systemic failure in modern journalism. The segment argues that the lack of accountability for "fake" reporting has become normalized in the industry.

The hosts discuss the viral video of Sinclair Broadcast Group anchors reading the same scripted message across dozens of local stations. They point out that this practice is not new, citing Conan O'Brien's previous montages of identical local news scripts. The segment explains how "CNN News Source" provides pre-written packages that flow directly into local teleprompters.

The current price of Bitcoin is noted at $13,422 following a recent dip. The segment also questions why open-source developers have not yet successfully launched a viable decentralized search engine to challenge the dominance of major tech corporations.

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein issued a statement cautioning the public against relying on anonymous sources in news reports regarding the Russia investigation. This follows several high-profile retractions and denials, including claims that James Comey asked for more resources before being fired. The hosts argue that major media outlets like CNN and The New York Times are frequently using unidentified sources to push inaccurate narratives.

Donald Trump doubled down on his "enemy of the people" label for the media, specifically targeting outlets that use anonymous sources to create "fake" stories. He argued that the media intentionally omits the word "fake" when reporting his criticisms to make it appear he is attacking the entire press. The hosts discuss the performance art aspect of Trump's delivery and his long-standing consistency on these themes dating back to 2013.

The hosts discuss the over-reliance on anonymous sources in modern journalism, citing historical fabrications by reporters like Janet Cooke and Jayson Blair. They argue that the lack of accountability for unnamed sources allows for the spread of gossip and rumors as fact. The segment references the "weapons of mass destruction" reporting as a primary example of how anonymous sourcing can lead to catastrophic policy decisions.

Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson announces a new "intermediate level" for the National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS). Johnson explicitly mentions that the government communicates threats through "news leaks" and "anonymous sources." The hosts are shocked by this admission of using propaganda to maintain public anxiety. Johnson also warns of "self-radicalized actors" who could strike without notice.

RT correspondent Gayane Chichakyan reports on the rise of blogger Elliot Higgins, founder of Bellingcat, as a mainstream media defense expert. Critics, including German forensics expert Jens Kriese, describe Higgins' methods as "reading tea leaves" due to his lack of formal weapons training. The segment highlights Higgins appearing simultaneously on CNN and Sky News to blame pro-Russian rebels for the MH17 crash.

A clip of Sean Hannity mistakenly claiming the average American family will lose "3,000 jobs" due to cap-and-trade is played for ridicule. The hosts conclude the show by reiterating the need for donations to reach the "magic number three" for weekly episodes and the return of the *Daily Source Code*. The broadcast ends with a sign-off from the 13th floor of the Marriott in San Francisco.

Development continues on the 24/7 No Agenda stream, which integrates multiple news sources and reads recent listener tweets on air. Early metrics show increasing audience engagement, though the hosts anticipate potential negative feedback as the platform grows.